Federal union leaders to President Trump, Congress: American citizens in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands need our help

Glacial pace of recovery efforts is indefensible, AFGE says in open letter

News provided by

American Federation of Government Employees

Oct 03, 2017, 11:53 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leaders with the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union, are calling on President Trump and Congress to expedite the pace of recovery efforts to the 3.5 million American citizens in hurricane-battered Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In an open letter to President Trump and members of Congress, AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. and Fifth District National Vice President Everett Kelley said residents on the islands "desperately need our help."

Continue Reading
The largest federal employee union, the American Federation of Government Employees, is calling on President Trump and members of Congress to expedite the pace of recovery efforts for the 3.5 million American citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who are struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Above is an aerial photo of northern Puerto Rico taken on Sept. 26 by the U.S. Air Force’s Civil Air Patrol, in cooperation with the Air National Guard.
The largest federal employee union, the American Federation of Government Employees, is calling on President Trump and members of Congress to expedite the pace of recovery efforts for the 3.5 million American citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who are struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Above is an aerial photo of northern Puerto Rico taken on Sept. 26 by the U.S. Air Force’s Civil Air Patrol, in cooperation with the Air National Guard.

"Failing to treat this disaster with the same sense of urgency you displayed when Hurricanes Harvey and Irma battered the mainland just weeks earlier is indefensible," the letter states. Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Maria made landfall, most residents still lack essentials like running water, food, and electricity.

"Our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are being treated like second-class citizens," President Cox said. "There's no excuse for it taking this long to get aid and relief to people who desperately need our help. While President Trump's visit to Puerto Rico is a welcome show of support, residents need immediate action, not just rhetoric. Congress and the White House need to step up the recovery efforts at once."

AFGE represents more than 5,000 federal employees who work in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They have been working around the clock to continue serving the public, even as they face their own personal tragedies and losses.

"Thousands of federal workers who call these islands home are looking to their government for help, and the silence is deafening," said NVP Kelley, whose district includes both islands. "They're working under extraordinarily difficult circumstances to deliver care and assistance to our citizens in need. Help cannot come fast enough."

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 700,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees

Related Links

http://www.afge.org

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

icon3
440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers
icon1
9k+
Digital Media
Outlets
icon2
270k+
Journalists
Opted In
GET STARTED